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Surgery
Source: Renal Cell Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)–Patient Version, National Cancer Institute.
Source updated: May 12, 2025 · Captured 2026-09-09.
Selected source text with whitespace normalised. This Triangle page is not an NCI PDQ summary. Independent clinical review is pending.
Context: Treatment Option Overview for Renal Cell Cancer / The following types of treatment are used:
Surgery to remove part or all of the kidney is often used to treat renal cell cancer. The following types of surgery may be used:
Partial nephrectomy is surgery to remove the cancer within the kidney and some of the tissue around it. A partial nephrectomy may be done to prevent loss of kidney function when the other kidney is damaged or has already been removed.
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Simple nephrectomy is surgery to remove the kidney only.
Radical nephrectomy is surgery to remove the kidney, the adrenal gland, surrounding tissue, and usually nearby lymph nodes.
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A person can live with part of one working kidney, but if both kidneys are removed or not working, the person will need dialysis (a procedure to clean the blood using a machine outside of the body) or a kidney transplant (replacement with a healthy donated kidney). A kidney transplant may be done when the disease is in the kidney only and a donated kidney can be found. If the person has to wait for a donated kidney, other treatment is given as needed.
After the doctor removes all the cancer that can be seen at the time of the surgery, some people may receive radiation therapy to kill any cancer cells that are left. Treatment given after surgery to lower the risk that the cancer will come back is called adjuvant therapy.
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When surgery to remove the cancer is not possible, other procedures might be done:
Arterial embolization may be used to shrink the tumor. A small incision (cut) is made, and a catheter (thin tube) is inserted into the main blood vessel that flows to the kidney. Small pieces of a special gelatin sponge are injected through the catheter into the blood vessel. The sponges block the blood flow to the kidney and prevent the cancer cells from getting oxygen and other substances they need to grow.
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Cryosurgery uses an instrument to freeze and destroy abnormal tissue. This type of treatment is also called cryotherapy. Learn more about Cryosurgery to Treat Cancer.
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Thermal ablation (also called hyperthermia) uses heat to destroy abnormal tissue. Learn more about Hyperthermia to Treat Cancer.
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Preserved source evidence · Independent clinical review pending · Not medical advice